The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Sept. 8. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 24, 8 September 1894, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Sept. 8. General News.

In connection with the forthcoming band contest, the proprietors of this journal intend to offer a prize to the person who first correctly places in their order of merit the bands taking part in the contest. The conditions will be issued shortly.

Several contributions, including another of Grandfather’s interesting yarns, are crowded out of this issue.

The Railway Department announce the delay of a number of trains on Wednesday afternoon for the convenience of country visitors attending the interprovincial football match.

“ Simply inundated with pressing cases,” is the latest report of the Dunedin Benevolent Trustees. Tenders for inland mail services are invited by the Postal Department for 1895-6. Printed tender forms may be obtained at any post office, and tenders, which close on the Btk October, are to be addressed to the Chief Postmaster at Invercargill. Further particulars are advertised in this issue. Some prime fat lambs brought 22s each at Addington last week. The ship Cambnswallaee, from England to Australia, has been wrecked near Brisbane. Six lives were lost. It was the vessel’s maiden voyage. The example of Mrs Yates, of Onehunga, is bearing fruit. The wife of the harbourmaster at Westport, Mrs Leech, is running against Mr Colvin for a municipal councillorship. The British cruiser Eingarooma has been wrecked at the New Hebrides. AH hands were saved.

The young woman, Sarah Gregory, charged with child murder, at Fortrose, was committed for trial oa Thursday. Bail was allowed.

The Riverton Harbour Bill has been rejected by the Legislative Council. Messrs A. Blacke, J. Stead, and W. Ba'ehelor, were on Thursday re-elected without opposition for the Second, Third, and South Wards respectively, while Mr W. B. Scandrett was elected in the same way for the North Ward. The Southland Gun Club hold a tournament during band contest week, when a number of handsome trophies and £7O in money will be given.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Southland Educatiou Board A. P. Schmidt’s tender of £69 5s for repairing the Arrow school and teacher’s residence was accepted. The inspector of works, was ordered to prepare plans for new schools at Pyramid Siding and Chatton Road.

The Premier of Queensland has introduced a Peace Preservation Bill of a.drastic character. It prohibits the sale or carrying of fire-arms in proclaimed districts. The Labor members of Parliament intend to stonewall the measure.

. “ Death in the pot.” A man named John Westall has been arrested on a .charge of attempting to poison ten men at the Rhodes Estate, Hawkes Bay. The men became very ill after partaking of stew prepared by Westall, and exhibited all the symptoms of arse* nical poisoning. It is understood that there was ill-feeling between Westall and the men.

A special meeting of tbe Invercargill Borough Council was held on Thursday night, when the promoters of the proposed swimming baths had an interview with, them, and discussed likely sites and the question of monetary assistance. It is under* stood that the Council could not see its way to grant one of the garden reserves, but suggested several others. This matter will be dealt with later. The Council was alsounable to grant any monetary aid. It is now likely that the town will be provided with baths by private enterprise, as those interested are enthusiastic and earnest.

Mr W. Vallance, of the Tyne street Woodware and Joinery Factory, has taken Mr George Rough as a partner in his business, which has been steadily increasing. A. splendid plant is fitted up for turning out window and door sashes and all. kinds of moulding and joinery work, and with their' long experience at the trade, Messrs Vallance and Rough should be able to supply any of. the local requirements.

Some very fine lamb, the first of the season, is on view at the shop of Messrs Wills and Co., butchers. The lambs were bred by J. Eeid and Sons, on the Monte Christo estate and are from their celebrated Shropshire rams. It is very seldom that such good lamb is seen in Invercargill so early in the season.

A grand sacred concert is to be given in the Strathearn Primitive Methodist church on Monday, September 17th. The choir will be assisted by several of the leading singers of Invercargill. Solos will be rendered by Miss Geddes, Miss Organ, Miss Nicholas, Mrs. Anderson, Mr Hensley, and others. Readings and recitations will be given, and refreshments will be handed round during the interval. The charge of admission is the modest sum of one shilling, the proceeds being in aid of the church funds.

At the last meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin a minute of the Presbytery of Southland was laid on the table, together with a call from the congregation of First Church, Invercargill, to the Rev. J. Gibson Smith, North Dunedin, and reasons for translation. The call which was signed by 826 members and 149 adherents, will be considered on the 19th inst.

In the course of a letter on People’s Banka Mr Willis, of Sydney, remarks ; Mr Dibbs, of the Commercial Banking Company of' Sydney, says : —‘ Suppose a people’s bank were established in Sydney, could it lend a small sum to ea cl of the 700 passengers who arrived from New Zealand the other day, say, 20s without security, and who in a few month might leave the colony again ?’ Mr Dibbs mnsfc know that in Germany, Italy, and France, the floating population is greater than in Australia ; but the people’s banks do not loan funds to the floating population, nor even to every old resident who might want money. Indeed such proposals are contrary to the principles of co-operation. In Italy and Germany persons wishing to become members of the people’s cooperative banks must be nominated by members, and pass a ballot before admitted to membership. The members deposit theirsavings to be loaned out, therefore their interest in the honesty of every borrower is paramount. The endorsed note-of-hand is drawn for a period of three months (renewable) that the money might be called in earlier than the time for which it was applied if the borrower were found to have deceived the board. It will be noticed that every member ib interested in every loan that is made. The profits in most cases arc devoted to a reserve fund, which in the case ofi Germany now stands at £15,000,000 reserve. Our large banking institutions have nothing to fear from the establishment of vii lage banks. A city like Sydney is not the place for such co-op 3rations, but they might be advantageously established in such places as Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Picton, and similar districts throughoat the country. Settlement would be stimulated, and struggling selectors, fruitgrowers, and dairymen assisted in their undertakings. When they are well on their feet and their freehold secured the limited banks might find them desirable customers. Mr Henderson, of the City Bank, is responsible for the statement that “ personal character is a most delusive security on which to rely.” He is, perhaps, not aware that in Germany L 100,000,000 per annum is advanced on personal security alone by the People’s Banks, and it is published on the highest authority that neither borrower nor lender has ever lost a fraction through dishonesty. had considerable business with small tenant farmers, fruitgrowers, and selectors, I can confidently say that many men would be greatly benefited and enabled to make their homes freehold if they had the use of L-50 or L6O to turn over in their dealings.

Dyeing, up to Date. Your Clothes scoured, dyed, repaired, pressed, by practical men on the premises. Pounds may be saved by consulting GEO, ROSS & CO., opposite the Supreme Court, Tay street, where they have commenced business as above. A long experience gained in New Zealand, Melbourne, and London gives them every confidence in asking your support.— Ax>vt.

It will be seen from her advertisement that Mrs A. K. Moseley has removed to Gala street, near Dee street. Owing to the increase in the number of her pupils her studio over Messrs Wesnej’s premises had become too small for her requirements. A juvenile operetta, entitled “ The _ Children in the woods,” will be piocluoed in the Theatre Boyal on the evenings of Thursday and Friday next, 13th and 14th insts. The Sroceeds will be devoted to St. John s Sunay School building fund. The work has been in hand for a considerable time, and from the way the youthful performers acquitted themselves at a rehearsal on Thursday night, a treat is in store for those who care for taking music, pretty costumes, and brilliant stage and scenic effects. A number of exceedingly droll and quaint conceits are introduced, and the spectacular display, to which the recent alterations in the stage lend themselves admirably, is remarkably fine, the marching and counter-marching of the troops in one of the acts being particularly attractive. There will also be a great transformation scene. It may be added that between the acts Miss Elsie, a maiden of six, and a sister of Miss Nellie Black, will play a violin solo, and that at appropriate places Miss Kitty Eogers will give a skirt dance, and Master H. Geddes a hornpipe.